“I don’t make a habit of letting submissives dictate terms.”
“Can’t you make an exception?”
Vicki searched April’s face, her green eyes probing into April’s. April held her gaze. She didn’t know why, but she wanted this so badly.
Vicki shook her head. “All right,” she finally said. “I’ll show you.”
Chapter Three
“Strip off your panties and come here,” Vicki said.
April did as she was told, moving to stand in front of Vicki in the center of the rug. “What are you going to do?” she asked.
“You’ll see. Don’t worry, I’m not going to use any of my toys.”
“Then how are you going to show me what you do?”
Vicki didn’t answer her. “You need to choose a safeword. Something you’re unlikely to say accidentally.”
“Why do I need a safeword if you’re not going to use your toys?”
“Safewords aren’t just for physical play,” Vicki said. “Your safeword?”
April thought for a moment. “Cinnamon.”
“Cinnamon it is. Say the word, and everything stops.”
April nodded. “Okay.”
Almost immediately, there was a subtle shift in Vicki’s demeanor. The green in her eyes darkened, and her physical presence grew to fill the room. It was like she slipped on a mask, one that amplified a certain side of her. It was the side of Vicki that had made April fall to pieces the moment their eyes had met in the bar.
“You seem to have this idea that BDSM is all physical,” Vicki said. “In reality, it’s all in the mind. Everything in my closet? It’s all window dressing. I don’t need any of it to gain your submission. I’m going to show you that right now.”
“How?” April asked.
“I’m going to peel back all your defenses and work my way deep inside you until you’re truly vulnerable,” Vicki said. “Until you have no choice but to surrender.”
A shiver rolled down the back of April’s neck. She kept her face blank, not letting Vicki see how much she was getting under her skin.
“And then,” Vicki said, a smile playing on her lips, “You’re going to beg me for release.”
April smirked. “You can try.”
“I’m very good at what I do. If I say you’re going to beg, then you’re going to beg. That brings me to the rules of the game.” Vicki began to pace in front of her slowly. “You will obey every instruction that I give you. You will remain perfectly still otherwise. And you will remain silent unless I ask you a question. When I ask you a question, you will answer me honestly.”
“Are you going to make me call you ‘Master’ too?” April asked. “Or is it Mistress?”
Vicki’s face remained impassive. “You’ve already broken a rule.”
“You didn’t say that we’d started.”
“We’ve started,” Vicki said firmly. “Talk back to me again, and this ends.”
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April bit back a retort.
“Good, you’re learning. Now close your eyes.”